Automatic means for preventing detrimental physiological reactions at high altitudes



y 1944. H. M. KIRSCHBAUM 2,353,906

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR PREVENTING DETRIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS ATHIGH ALTITUDE-S Filed Sept. 8, 1942 PHOTO ELECTRIC LIGHT CELL N ANAROIDBA ROMETER SWITCH ELECTRO- MAGNETIC VALVE INVENTOR.

- HARRY M.KIRSCHBAUM ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1944 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR PREVENTING DETRIMENTAL' PHYSIOLOGICALREAC- TIONS AT HIGH ALTITUDES Harry M. Kirschbaum, Detroit, Mich. 1

Application September 8, 1942, Serial No. 457,676 7 Claims. (01.128-204)The invention relates to means for protecting aviators when flying athigh altitudes from detrimental physiological reactions incident to 'lowbarometric pressure. It is a well-known fact that it is dangerous topass rapidly from normal atmospheric pressure to altitudes where thepressure is greatly reduced. This causes various physiologicalreactions, among which are, first. oxygen deficiency in the blood due tothe rarefied atmosphere; second, aeroembolism, which is generallyconceded to be caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the bodytissues and fluids due to decrease in atmospheric pressure.v To avoidthe first difficulty the aviator is supplied with pure oxygen. Thesecond dimculty has been partially overcome by a preliminary treatmentof the aviator prior to his making the ascent. Such treatment includesphysical exercise taken while breathing pure oxygen, or a mixture ofoxygen and helium, instead of the ordinary atmosphere, thereby to aconsiderable extent eliminating the nitrogen gas which has been absorbedby the system. Obviously, it is not always possible for the aviator totake this preliminary treatment, and consequently he is exposed to thedanger incident to rapid ascent.

It is the object of my invention to provide means for conditioning theaviator which automatically operates during his ascent, so that he willbe protected against aeroembolism when high sists in the novel methodand apparatus as here-:

inafter set forth.

In the drawing; Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating my improvedapparatus; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing-a modification.

In the present state of medical knowledge the conditioning accomplishedby exercise while breathing pure oxygen is not fully understood.

It is reasonable to suppose that the elimination of nitrogen gas fromthe system is expedited by muscular exercise. It is also possible thatthe movement and vibrationof the tissues, aside from muscular effort,partially accounts for'the effect. Thus physical benefit is obtainedthrough the use of motor-driven mechanisms for "oscillating or vibratingmembers of the human body, which is in some respects similar to thatderived from voluntary muscular exercise. I have therefore designed amechanism for use in aircraft which during flight imparts anoscillatingor vibrating movement to the body of the aviator, and without requiringany attention on his part. This mechanism is automatically controlled bybarometricpressure, which may also simultaneously control theadministration of oxygen. It may, however, be undesirable to continuethe oscillation treatment beyond a certain limit of altitude, and thisalso is automatically controlled by barometric pressure. On the otherhand, to avoid oxygen deficiency in the blood the oxygen treatment mustcontinue while at high altitudes. and I have therefore provided separatemeans for automatically controlling its administration responsive to theactual condition of the blood.

' As an aviator pilot is obliged to use both hands and feet formanipulating the controls during flight, one'essential characteristic ofthe oscillating mechanism employedis that it must not interfere withsuch manipulation. This I accomplish by a modification-in the controlmechanism such that while oscillatory movement may be imparted tothe-legs and arms of the pilot, these members are maintained during suchmovement in'the same'relation to the control levers operated thereby. I

As specifically illustrated in the drawing, the

construction of the apparatus is as follows: A is' the lever in thecontrol mechanism which is operated by the feet of the pilot tomanipulate the rudder. B is the.control stick or other means operated bythe hands of the pilot for manipulating the elevatorand ailerons. Themovements which are imparted to the latter member are usually forwardand back for operating the elevator, and sidewise for operating theailerons. The movement imparted to the lever A is an angular movementabout a vertical pivot accomplished by movement of the feetrespectivelyforward and to the rear. In order that these same movements may beaccomplished when the arms and legs are being oscillated, I have mountedthese members-so that they'are raised and lowered to the sameextent'andin phase with the oscillations. Thus the member A is fulcrumedat A at the. end of a linkme'mber C, which-latter is oscillated in avertical direction by suitable means such as a revolving crank D andconnectingro'd D. The feet of the pilot areheld on the lever by engagingpedals E thereon, to'which'theymay be strapped orotha coupled throughthe medium of a suitable transmission H with said crank. The startingand stopping of the motor is accomplished by closing or opening a switchI, which in turn is controlled by barometric pressure.

As diagrammatically illustrated, J is a barometer which under varyingatmospheric pressures actuates a member K. L is a photoelectric cell,and M is a light source for direct? ing a beam N against said cell. Themember K in one position of adjustment is interposed in the path of saidlight beam M so as to shield the cell L therefrom, while in anotherposition it is removed from the path of the beam. The cell is utilizedto control the operation of the switch I, and the arrangement is suchthat at a predetermined barometric pressure the switch I will be closedto energize the motor G, thereby operating the oscillating mechanism. Atanother pressure the switch I will be open to deenergize the motor G,thereby stopping the oscillations. Any suitable means may be used forcontrolling the switch I from the barometer J, and that illustrated ismerely one construction.

To supply oxygen or other gas to the pilot an oxygen tank is connectedby a flexible conduit P with a mouth or nose piece P' secured to thepilots head. An electromagnetically operated valve Q controlled by thephoto cell L opens or closes connection between the tank and conduit P,so that whenever the oscillating mechanism is in action, oxygen willalso be supplied to the pilot. However, as above stated, it is desirableto continue the oxygen supply at times when the oscillating mechanism isnot in operation. This is accomplished through a by-pass valve Q whichis controlled by the condition of'the blood of the pilot. The apparatusused for this purpose forms the subject matter of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 449,489, filed July 2, 1942, entitled Method andapparatus for controlling the'oxygen content of the blood of livinganimals, and therefore will not be specifically described here, but ingeneral the change in color of the blood, due to oxygen deficiency, willafiect the transmission of light through body tissue, such for instanceas the lobe R of the ear. This, operating through a photo electric cell,will effect the opening or closing of the valve Q. Thus, when there isoxygen deficiency, the blood becomes darker, which will cause theopening of the valve while the restoration of the color to normal willclose the valve.

With the apparatus as described, the controls are so set that theoscillator will be set in 'motion at a predetermined barometric pressureand will remain in operation until a much higher altitude is attained.The oscillator will raise and lower the legs and arms of the pilot butas the controls are. simultaneously oscillated to the same extent and inthe same :phase, there will be no interference with the operation ofeither the control stick or'the foot-operated lever. During thismovement oxygen, helium, or any other suitable gas is administered tothe pilot with the result that nitrogen gas is eliminated from thesystem before sufficient altitude is attained to be dangerous. Also, atsome other predetermined barometric pressure the oscillator is stopped,so as to permit the members of the body to remain quiescent while ,stilladministering oxygen. The exact point at which the oscillator is throwninto or out of action can be determined by careful experimentation, andthe personal equation of the aviator may also be a factor to beconsidered. However, with my apparatus, conditions during flight mostfavorable to the health and efficiency of the pilot are automaticallymaintained.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 2, in place ofoscillating the controls by a crank and connecting rods, I employ afluid motor for this purpose. As shown, S is a fluid cylinder and T apiston rod extending vertically therefrom on which is fulcrumed thelever A. An oscillator ipump U located at any convenient point andactuated by a clamp V from a motor is connected by conduits W with thecylinder S, so as to cause a vertical oscillation of the rod B. Similarmeans may be used for oscillating the hand control lever.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Means for physiologically conditioning the body of an animal subjectfor safety at high altitudes, comprising gas administering means, anoscillator for one or more members of the body, and means responsive tochanges in barometric pressure for controlling said gas administeringmeans and oscillating means.

2. Means for physiologically conditioning the body of a human subjectfor safety at high altitudes, comprising gas administering means, anoscillator for one or more members of the body, and means responsive tochanges in barometric pressure for controlling the operation of saidoscillating means.

3. Means for physiologically conditioning the body of a human subjectfor safety at high altitudes, comprising gas administering means,oscillating means for one or more members of the body, and meansresponsive to changes in barometric pressure for starting saidoscillating means at one altitude and for stopping the same at a higheraltitude.

4. Means for physiologically conditioning the body of a human subjectfor safety at high altitudes, comprising gas administering means, meansfor oscillating one or more members of the body, means responsive tochanges in barometric pressure for starting said oscillating means atone altitude, for stopping it at a higher altitude, and forsimultaneously starting and stopping said gas administering means.

5. Means for physiologically conditioning the body of a human subjectfor safety at high altitudes, comprising gas administering means.

means for oscillating one or more members of the body, means responsiveto changes in barometric pressure for starting said oscillating means atone altitude, for stopping it at a higher altitude, and forsimultaneously starting and stopping said gas administering means, andindependent means responsive to changes in condition of the blood of thesubject for continuing operation of said gas administering means at highaltitudes.

6. Means for physiologically conditioning the conditioning 10 the bodyof an aviator pilot for safety at high altitudes, comprising gasadministering means, means for vertically oscillating the controlsrespectively manipulated by the hands and the feet of the pilot toimpart a similar oscillation to his legs and arms without interferencewith the vlateral movement thlereo-f incident to manipulation of saidcontrols.

HARRY M. KIRSCHIBAUM.

